Electric chime with acoustic members giving out different tones



Sept. 2, 1958 2,850,724

L. BASSANI ELECTRIC CHIME WITH ACOUSTIC MEMBERS I, GIVINGOUT DIFFERENTTONES Filed Oct. 1, 1956 Fisi INVENTOR ELECTRICYCHlIt IE WITH ACOUSTICMEMBERS GEVING OUT DHFFERENT TUNES Luigi Bassani, Milan, Italy, assignorto Societa per Azioni .Bassani, Milan, Italy, a joint-stock company Thisinvention relates to an electric chime, by which an acoustic signal withtwo or more tones is emitted, whereby the differences amongst theacoustic signals emitted as a plurality of different tones can be easilyappreciated, while an agreeable tone is always transmitted.

The bell according to the invention is characterized by one electricwinding, combined with an iron core provided with a striker and fittedbetween at least two acoustic or ringing members whereby, when currentis fed into said winding, the striker will alternately act on either ofsaid acoustic members.

According to the invention, the electric winding takes the form of asolenoid, and the iron core is provided with a striker on both endsthereof acting on the associated acoustic members arranged opposite oneanother and between which the solenoid is fitted.

The acoustic members are advantageously shaped as laminated plates orblades, and are kept in place by resilient supports.

The invention will be now disclosed in the following description, takenwith the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of thechime is shown.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electric chime.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the chime, with the cover removed.

Figures 3 and 4 respectively are sectional views along the lines IIIIIIand IVIV of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the figures, the chime unit as shown comprises a base10 having ribs ending in folded edges 14 all along its outer contour.The ribs are directed to the outside of the base of the casing, therebyacting as spacers between the wall on which the chime unit is fitted andthe base thereof. Cut outs are also made on the longitudinal andtransverse sections of said ribs, thereby forming openings through whichthe electric leads are passed.

The cover 18 fitted on the base has a folded edge engaged with theperiperal groove formed by the ribs 12 and abutting the folded edge 14.

The cover 18 is kept in place .by means of resilient spring clips 20mounted on the base 10.

Openings 22 are cut in the longer side walls of said cover, for purposeswhich will be hereinafter specified.

The operating parts of the chime, that is the acoustic members or bladesand the strikers with their controlling means, are mounted on the base10.

Such members, in the embodiment shown, are suitably connected to form asingle unit, which is secured- States Patent "ice that are fittedoutside the shell 28, to allow connection of the leads'be easily madethereto.

The position of the winding 32 is clearly shown in Fig. 3. Moreprecisely, the sleeve 30 is inserted into the holes in the side walls ofthe shell 28 and secured in place by suitable means, such as forinstance by flanging the ends thereof. A magnetic core 36, havingstriking heads 38, 40 on both ends, is slidably fitted inside the sleeve30. Said striking 'heads'could be'advantageously made of g iildingnon-metallic material, such as wood, fibres or the The end of said core36 outside of the sleeve has thereon a collar 42 to hold one end of aspring 44 coiled around said core, and the opposite end of Which issecured on the outside wall of the shell 28. Said spring holds the otherend of core 36 within the end of sleeve 30 for purposes which will behereinafter stated.

A plurality of pairs of uprights 46 and of uprights 48 respectively, arefitted on the said box-like frame 26 near the ends thereof (see Fig. 4).Narrow sections 50 and 52 are formed on the free ends of each of saiduprights.

Resilient sleeves 54, and 56, made of suitable material, such as forinstance sponge rubber or the like are seated on each of said narrowsections.

The middle peripheral portion of said resilient sleeves is resilientlyengaged with suitable openings cut in chime bars 58 and 60, vwhich havedifierent frequencies of vibration and therefore diiferent tones. Suchchime bars act as acoustic members when struck by the magnetic core 36.

Pairs of holes 62, 64 are cut in the base 10, the holes 62 being for thepurpose of hanging the hell on a wall or the like, and the holes 64allowing passage of the electric leads to be brought into the chime andclamped to terminals 34.

The operation of chime is as follows. When the electric circuitconnected to terminals 34 is closed, a current will flow through thewinding 32, and the magnetic core 36 is drawn into the sleeve againstthe action of spring 44 by the generated magnetic field. The drawingaction of the solenoid 32 on the core 36 causes lower striking head 40to strike against the chime bar 60. By opening said circuit the upperhead 38 is permitted strike against chime bar 53, and a differenttone-is given out. The striking heads 33, 4% will contact the chime bars58 and 60 a very short time due to the kinetic energy of core 36 when itis drawn by the magnetic force, and then when it is restored by thespring 44. More precisely, said core is made in such a manner that, whenit is drawn into the sleeve by the magnetic force, it will be affectedby the solenoid only until it reaches a position in which only a verynarrow space remains between the head 40 and the chime bar 60, and thesame is true with respect to head 38, when said core is in its restposition.

It is to be understood that modifications and changes may be made in theaforedescribed and illustrated electric chime device, according to thefeatures and requirements of its use and application. Thus, forinstance, a contact, series-connected with the winding 32, could becontrolled by the core 36 in order to interrupt the circuit by whichsaid winding 32 is energized when the core is drawn, thereby causing thewinding to be excited again.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understoodfrom the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changesmay be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention orsacrificing its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described andillustrated in the drawings being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An electrically operated chime producing separate tones comprising abox-like frame, a sleeve transversely mounted through said frame, amagnetic core slidable in said sleeve, at least one electric windingaround said sleeve, at least two uprights mounted on-said frame andprojecting therefrom in a direction parallel to the direction of saidsleeve, a chime bar resiliently mounted on the said supports adjacentthe free ends thereof, and a spring mounted between said core and saidframe urging said core out of said sleeve toward said chime bar.

2. An electrically operated bell as claimed in claim 1 and a base on oneside of which said box-like frame is removably secured, spacing memberson the other side of said base for spacing said base from a wall, and a4 cover fitting on said base and over the other parts on said base, saidcover having an opening therein for permitting passage therethrough ofthe sound waves produced when said magnetic core strikes said chime bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,265,816 Rittenhouse Dec. 9, 1941 2,307,104 Bossard Ian. 5, 19432,417,037 Zuckerman Mar. 4, 1947 2,463,203 Reck Mar. 1, 1949 2,470,827Miller May 24, 1949 2,659,074 Alexander, et a1. Nov. 10, 1953

